Dana Brooks

Readings

My readings involve selections from the book which give the students an idea of the story. I focus on segments which bring home the book’s most important messages:

• anti-violence
• multi-culturalism

vall creatures matter and have a role to play,

• fashion doesn’t matter as much as friends and doing the right thing
• tolerance and acceptance of all
• forgiveness rather than revenge

Also, when time allows, I like to have a Q & A with the kids (and adults) about the Oak Ridges Moraine, what it is and why preserving it is so important. (The book is complete with a Learning Guide)

Special Equipment:

Dana does not require special equipment, but can share a PowerPoint presentation with students. For this, she would require a projector and screen only.

Book Sales:

Dana brings copies of her books to the readings for students to purchase and have autographed, and offers a special discount price on both hardcover and softcover copies.

Workshops

An excerpt from Blaze Saves the Moraine. I ask the class what kind of story is it? I ask what type of writing? (Narrative) In which person is it told? What other ways are there to write a story (First person, etc.)

Then, I share with the class why I wanted to write such a book: What moved me. What inspired me.

Then, we have an open discussion, one by one, about what kind of story each student would like to write. What moves them to this topic? What is their inspiration.

We go through (with or without a projector, I can use a flip chart as well) points of telling a good story discussing each.

Then we get down to business: The students write their own “mini-story” and share with the class. Their fellow students then can tell each writer what they LIKED about the story. They may also offer constructive criticism, but the point is to create a supportive environment to encourage the students to write and to feel CONFIDENT!

I feel seminar should be very active, not passive. Empower, encourage and engage!

Special Equipment:

Projector and screen for PowerPoint presentation.

Book Sales:

Dana brings copies of her books to the workshops for students to purchase and have autographed, and offers a special discount price on both hardcover and softcover copies.

Biography

As an actress for over 25 years, Dana Brooks has appeared on stage and screen across Canada, the US and the UK. From playing The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland to playing an alien in the long-running US science fiction series “Tek War” to writing comedy material for the likes of Roseanne Barr, Dana has stepped into many “skins.” Blaze Saves the Moraine is Dana’s first book ever. Inspired by her love for children and animals, and her concern for the environment. Concern, in other words, for the planet we are leaving to our children.

Dana believes in a world where EVERYONE gets along. Where all are respected; every race, every culture, every faith-group and, in short, every species. Our children have the greatest opportunities of any generation before them to experience and embrace every type of person on God’s earth.

The “Blaze Saves” series of books, as well as future books like Nefertiti Meets a Queen, where one of our heroes travels back to Egypt and discovers the many accomplishment and contributions of black people to the world mosaic, aims to teach these important goals.

Tolerance. Respect. Anti-violence. Forgiveness, not revenge.